BSE Healthcare (BSE HC) Index of leading 69 pharmaceutical companies declined sharply by 730.92 points in afternoon session to its lowest at 15,076.67. However, it recovered slightly later and closed at 15,150.31, with fa all of 657.28 points on Friday. This is the largest fall in the BSE HC index in one day during the last couple of years. Before that it declined by 541.94 points on September 29, 2016. BSE Sensex of 30 companies also declined by 156.13 points to 27,274.15.
The US probe for price collusion, uncertainty about US elections results, quality problems, competition, poor economic conditions in few markets and volatile forex rates are impacting the investors' confidence. Several pharma scrips experienced profit taking during the last couple of trading sessions and the BSE HC index declined continuously during last few sessions.
On Friday, the BSE HC opened at 15,685.87 points, lower than previous close of 15,807.59 and declined further to touch day's lowest at 15,076.67. The index touched to day's highest level at 15,685.87 but drifted to close at 15,150.31, a declined of 657.28 points.
The US probe in respect of price collusion may adversely impact Indian pharma companies as significant portion of their revenues is coming from US markets. With the new of US likely action, Sun Pharma, Lupin, Wockhardt, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Cadila Healthcare, Torrent Pharmaceutical, Glenmark Pharma, etc declined sharply during last few trading session.
Sun Pharma scrip touched to its yearly lowest level on Friday to Rs.649.30 in the afternoon session and then closed at Rs.705 with loss of Rs.52.25 from previous close. Dr Reddy's Laboratories declined by over Rs.182 to Rs.3,260 and Lupin went down by Rs.52.65 and closed at Rs.1,473.55. Aurobindo scrip declined by Rs.43.20 to Rs.769.95. Several other pharma scrips like Glenmark, Wockhardt, Cipla, Strides Shasun, Jubilant Life, Biocon, Ajanta Pharma, Alkem Laboratories, etc declined sharply.
During the first nine months ended September 2016, Indian companies received higher number of approvals from US FDA and these companies launched several new products. Currently, 631 sites of Indian pharma manufacturing companies are EU GMP compliant, while 605 sites are registered with US FDA. Approximately 1,400 manufacturing units of major Indian pharma companies are WHO GMP certified. The increasing investments in R&D may help Indian companies to overcome problems in the international markets and this will bring back the investors confidence.